Snapper

Grassy Sweetlip

Jewfish

Shark

Barramundi

Trevally

Whiting

Boat Name

Latest news from the working group for bedtime reading
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/sustainable-fisheries-strategy/fishery-working-groups/moreton-bay-working-group/communiques/communique-15-february-2019
Norm

Met eye has it under 10 knots all day tomorrow. I have to do some oyster stuff so cant go outside but will put a few rods in and troll some spoons on the way home.
There is a decky spot available tomorrow on my boat. If you are keen to come out and learn about oyster farming and oyster reef restoration with a little bit of fishing on the side let me know.
It is a late start and will leave Wynnum at about 11.30am due to tides.

Good morning guys,
I finished work this morning and have had a couple, but I'm thinking about taking my boat out and sleeping on it for the night tomorrow night.
I've recently just brought an underwater light to attract bait/squid but I'm so torn on where to go. Last time I went out I hit up jacobs well and had a lot of success.
I was thinking about doing the same again and testing out this new light, with the hope of a jew fish... But I'm also thinking I could go out tomorrow during the day and sleep in horse shoe bay but have my light on to attract squid near the western side rocks.
Then once it hits an hour or two before high tide maybe hit up a reef or something. I don't know what is going well in the bay at the moment. All I know is that it's never as productive as I think it's going to be.
Anyway I know the wind my be an issue at points but I suppose what I'm really after is someone to tell me where to go.
High tide is during the night and just on sunrise so I probably need to figure out what I should do. I'm unsure where to catch live bait in the bay but I know plenty of places in jacobs well.
All suggestions welcome guys.
Hope everyone is having a good day
Cheers
Jordan

Hi AFO'ers,
Hit the nautical mile on Saturday to give the new MotorGuide and Merc90CT.
Happy to report that both work well and the Scout is even better than before. I can now see why they say an electric will change your fishing forever. Being able to move around the beacon without anchoring quiet as a mouse is just awesome.
So easy to catch live bait this way..
I was hoping to get onto some Macks but they seem to be somewhere else apart from a stray undersize.
Had a couple livies get smashed hook line and sinker ...
Then this ol' chap decided to grab and run...he / she might have been the original culprit as well.
Doesn't look like a bull shark anyone got any ideas? Was released for another day.
Pulled up stumps and headed towards Tangalooma to get some more hours on the engine. Could see some bust ups here and there but could get anything to take a bite.
I knew the engine upgrade was the right choice when I was sitting on 4400 and was doing 26kts and had to keep checking the engine was on!
Also love being able to use the Lowrance to control the motor guide ... bloody handy with that shark as I just hit a couple of arrows and took myself away!
Not the most successful day but loved it anyway!
Tight lines

Hey guys
Been a few months since i have posted a report. Been busy with work, xmas and a quick holiday to Agnes Waters where i watched the the wind blown20-25knots for 7 days straight .
My 9yr old has been some what not so keen on fishing in the Surtees since i brought it about 18 months ago.
Finally he agreed to leave his rugby league ball, cricket ball, runnings shoes and ps4 alone for a few hours and come for a run this moring to chase a few whiting and maybe a flathead if he was lucky .
Now i havent fished for whiting much in my years fishing moreton bay. So i rang a pro fishing mate of mine and he gave me an area of interest east of the mouth of the cabooluture river and we set off armed with some live worms (wow there not cheap) few 6lb handlines and the young fellas 10lb spin out out fit.
Started our 1st drift in glass out conditions about 7.30am and proceeded to fill the esky with winter whiting around the 22cm to 27cm getting 16 in the 1st drift and thowing any back under 20cm. Als got that flathead he came for but it was just undersize and jumped out of his hand while trying to get a picture.
Started the 2nd drift and put 8 more in the esky with both of us on the double hook ups!!!!.
After that and with the Northerly kicking in we made a dash for the ramp and headed home with a good feed of 22 solid winter whiting for the us and the grandparents .
Gotta love a kids smile when they are having a great time.
Panckro bread crumb whiting for dinner. Yummo
Cheers
Josh <><

Merry Xmas fellow AFO’s,
Weather has settled down finally and looks good for the lead up to New Year
Slightly embarrassed to report I’ve swapped boats ... gone for something a little smaller and centr console. I’ve loved the Lewis but it was just too big on my own and I’ve always wanted an open boat. Luckily the guys at Brisbane Yamaha scratched my itch and I’m now a proud owner of a Scout 175 sport fisher. Took it out on Friday and it’s exactly what I wanted! Handles the chop well, dry as a Nun’s..., and goes like a rocket with the older Merc 90 2 litre 4 stroke. Only had 60 hours on it...frugal as as well. Caught a school Mack so the boat has been bloodied but can’t wait to get it out tomorrow and the rest of the week. Going to do some beacon bashing and potentially bottom bash beteeen Moreton and Bribie conditions permitting ... need to get a radio installed ...
Just happy the weather has settled a bit wind wise

So heading to Straddie today i saw an unfamiliar site. The mud flats coming out from the harbor at Cleveland were... sand flats. I don't remember them ever being anything but mud? Is this the case or am I not remembering properly? Could this be the result of all the silt mitigation that we do on road works and construction sites??? Could we have a sandy western Moreton Bay again full of shellfish and Coral???? Or should I just calm down...
Oh and by the way i have never seen so many boats at horseshoe bay as there is today!!!! Happy New Year!!!!

Hey all
For your holiday reading pleasure.
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/sustainable-fisheries-strategy/fishery-working-groups/moreton-bay-working-group/communique-14-december-2018
Trying to make the Bay work for everyone
Norm

Hey guys,
I've been a bit down of late, working night shift and having life stuff to do on my days off makes Jordan a sad soul.
I haven't had my boat out in almost two months but was thinking about taking it out tomorrow and sleeping on it all night.
The species I would love to catch are bullsharks, threadfin, Jewish, cobia and snapper. Just because it's easy I was thinking about fishing the mouth of Brisbane river using live bait and probably pilchards if I can't can't anything.
Any suggestions on spots, rigs or what bait to choose. I could go Moreton Bay but the weather is so unpredictable at the moment and can always sleep under massive bridge.
Anyway I wish I could be camping but this stupid weather hey.
Any suggestions always welcome

Okay still a bit early in the week but got pass out card for this weekend Saturday and maybe Sunday.
Saturday not looking great for going wide unless the southerly blows through a bit earlier.
Looking like it’s going to blow about 15-20kts...but I’ve got to take my mum and uncle out. Sunday looks like the pick but don’t think I’ll be able to make it.
Will keep an eye out and keep the post going with the plan updates. Any ideas let me know

Hi all,
Im looking for some info on good spots to fish for barracuda in the Moreton Bay region. I'm looking for all species of Sphyraena, I.E the great barracuda, Yellowtail Barracuda, Pickhandle barracuda, etc. I've heard they can be found in Moreton Bay, but the specific locations aren't really clear.
Any help would be appreciated!
Cheers!

Been a while since my last post...flat out with the rush to Xmas. Weather has been a bit ordinary as well especially this weekend!
Anyways went out on my uncles brand spanking new Reflex Chianti 585 on Saturday. He asked me to drive it off the trailer...first time the boats been in the water!!!. Lot to be said for trust there but the new 130 yammy was a dream and the new trailer was a breeze it just slipped off. We did some wearing in of the motor before heading to the mile. Not much happening at all so then stopped in a Tangalooma before heading back to Scarbs. Great boat for the price with plenty for the fitout. Handle the chop pretty well but definitely trim sensitive for glass boat could be because it’s lighter than most at its size being a PUFF boat.
Definitely worth taking a look if you are in the market.
now what to do this weekend

Bit the bullet and bought a new sounder...the Lowrance run out sale is just too good to say no too. Did pick up a Carbon HDS3 9 Inch with Total Scan minus maps for $1699, but decided to skimp a little and get the EliteTI9 with totalscan and maps for $999. It's being installed as we speak and I am ready hit the water ASAP.
But the wind forecast this weekend is looking less than ideal with +15kt northerlies forecast from lunchtime this Saturday.
Will share where I end up and some pictures from the sounder fish or not...
Maybe nautical mile might be worth hitting up early again ... thoughts? Hit me up

Report from yesterday heading out from Scarborough to Cape Moreton then Hutchison Shoal
Weather forecast kept getting better all week with Saturday morning looking like it would be perfect for a trip outside for some bottom bashing... been waiting for some decent conditions to stretch my legs and build some more confidence outside in the boat.
So by Friday it was so good I almost thought about pulling the pin on work and heading out to stay overnight at Combo, but had too much on. Was so pumped still thought of heading out at 2-3am...but decided on a 5am push off at Scarbs.
Had my Uncle has deckie and an experienced hand around Moreton so we both decided to head to tempest or Hutchies or just go straight north up the channel...still trying to work out the payoff in my head for time spent v fish in the esky and I still have minimum hours outside of the Northern Bay (even then I have only clocked up about 70-80 hrs in total - so much area still to explore close in) so a bit of flip flopping going on in my head.
Stopped off at one of the beacons close to Bribie to get some livies ... happy to report there was plenty around and had about 12-5 assorted pike, herring, yakka. Couple of boats were chucking slugs around and it looked like one got a mack on a pillie floater and was thinking we might just anchor up for a while but then reminded myself today was the day to head further out.
Was going to head straight to Hutchies but decided to stop by yellow patch (think it is anyway) and pulled in some more livies then headed off.
Must admit the swell was a bit bigger than I was expecting ... definitely 1 to 1.5m I reckon and still a bit of wind around so it was a bit bumpy ... was cruising around 20kts though before opening it up to 25-7kts as we got closer. Must remember to hook in closer to the cape and then head straight north - seems to be less swell.
As per usual you can see the boats going up and down between Hutchies and Flinders, but I was trying to figure out where to go as I had no marks.
So did one drift to get the direction ... reset and started our NW - SE drifts. New sounder is awesome - even with Mr Novice at the controls.
I decided on using ball sink to swivel and 50cm leader to gangs with either a livie or slab of fresh livie, uncles was on a store bought double paternoster and fresh frozen bay squid. Would have to say that for bottom bouncing this time round the paternoster was a winner and the squid even more. Strange as last time it sucked ... could have been the tide as we most probably hit the first our of the ebb when we go there
First drift and uncle pulled in a Pearlie (just legal - and we nearly threw it back but I said the fridge is empty and is hungry so kept it), I got hit a couple of times but no luck. The sounder was showing tonnes of fish high up the water column, and some occasional marks on the bottom but still not sure what is what. Pretty sure there was a massive school of Macks beneath us a couple of times but couldn't get any hits on metal slices. So keeping to the rule of don't move if you are getting fish ... decided to keep doing the same track. Got some more reefies gold stripped snapper, trevally etc - but by this time my uncle was well and truely giving the reef his view of burley from a bent over position. He was out for the count and while I said we could head in he said he'd push through so I could keep fishing a bit more. Couple of more drifts with plenty of bait being taken but nothing hooked (using big hooks) and then I got absolutely taken to the cleaners that just pulled the line off for 10m and then left me with my swivel - might of been Dr Greynose. Catch of the day was the Gold Spot Pigfish landed by my uncle, I got one as well but dropped at the boat (you think I would have got the net re ady ... rookie).
Couple of boats trolling back and forth and almost thought about it but still learning the fuel economy (150l tank) and with Uncle looking bad decided to call it at 11.15 and headed back in. Felt pretty good about the decision as we got 15m away from Scarborough you could see the wave tips getting white and then just past the tri pod beacon it was really blowing up - to the point I was getting spray across the wind screen!
All in all great day with some more experience under the belt and feeling better about the boat.
Should have taken some more pics but here is the pig... almost too beautiful to keep.
The gold spot pig fish went 45cm and looking forward to heading it tonight (first time - so going to steam the fillets I think)
How did everyone else go ?
p.s My Suzuki DF140 (2008) was fully serviced at 195hr when I bought the boat, but while I was out there it would start then stop, then when I started it again it would go...anyone got any ideas? Also anyone got recommendations for trailer rust repairer around North Lakes? Just realised there is a hold on one of the cross beam struts I didn't see when I bought it.

FINALLY got the chance to fish ... been a month and half and I am junkie in need of a hit bad...feel like the guy out of Trainspotting!
Now the bloody hardest thing of all...where / what to do tomorrow.
Weather is looking mighty fine wind wise for a trip to the top of the Cape and maybe up to Hutchies ...
Or do I just see if there are any early Macks schooling up around the beacons...or try for some late season long tail...
What to do what to do...
Guys hit me with some suggestions..
Got a couple of things on tonight (beers) so most probably looking at a 530 - 6am blast off from Scarborough

Sitting down in the library Thursday morning, I noticed Wayne had thrown out a decky spot some 10 hours earlier and no-one had hit it.
Having returned from our hit and run visit to the U.S. for another Burning Man. ( YouTube it you may see me...) I was still suffering get lag and a severe sinus infection, damn dust, but instantly felt much better. Going.Fishing.Yes!
We were treated with beautiful conditions and steamed out to an area Wayne had done well with his boys earlier in the month.
Only using Gobblers plastics and an assortment of micro jigs led to a clean day.
For the first half an hour or so we fished plastics, giving them action to entice a bite. Nothing much happening and Wayne left his to dead stick while letting down a MJ. Not long after his plastics rod buckled over and he pulls up a high 40s squire to get off the mark.
Seeing the dead sticking working ( beer drinking fishing ) I did the same. Working our MJ's for the occasional bump and brief hookup, my plastic gets hit by a 35cm maori cod.
Then I land another squire of similar size on the plastic.
This dead sticking plastics is too easy as Wayne brings up another fish, this time an undersize Kingy.
Finally my MJ gets smashed and a fight to get this fish off the bottom begins. Usually my Gomoku rod is matched with one of my Stradic 5000 but today I chanced the 4000 Rarenium. The drag screamed as the fish went on a few runs and the heart was beating fast as it was a decent fish on the end of this toothpick setup. Up plopped an 85cm Mulloway which was a PB for me.
The esky was looking good for a few meals.
The bite stopped and we searched and sounded with no luck. The Markfish was doing its job and Wayne was happy. He made the call to go out to some Pearl Perch marks in 70-80m. On the way we came across some birds and fish working the surface and Wayne landed a fat MacToona and then continued to the marks.
The wind had started to pick up as did the run and it was making vertical drops difficult even as we increased weight. Wayne managed an undersized Pearly in between two really good sized fish that were lost half way up much to his anguish.
Then the visitors arrived. we had seen whales all day, in the distance.... These three were real close and one decided to come and say hello. Never have we been this close to whales that you could almost touch! He/She would lift its head out of the water, blow bubbles, swim under the boat and come up the other side and just hung around the Luvit like it was a toy. much to our amazement not once in its many passes so close did it even touch us. ( I'm sure Wayne wanted his lifejacket on at first.) This went on for about 15 minutes after a few times we thought they had gone when they went deep only to return just as close. After their last deep dive we decided to take off to try for some more Pearlies.
With nothing going down well we made the call to head for the ramp, stopping for bust ups where Wayne managed another MT. I'm still to get my first Long Tail.....
Another great day out on the water.

Hi All,
Fingers crossed I get my boat back by Friday cause the weather is looking pretty good.
Apart from good hauls of winter whiting I haven’t landed any of my target species like long tail, Spaniards etc.
Not wanting marks (although appreciated....just general area ... need to upgrade). Was planning on just staying between Bribie and the Cape - think I’ve found some rocky areas but the current is a shocker.
Normally drift trying to find the bites and then anchor but the current is crazy.

Happy Long Weekend all Moreton Bay and Redland Bay residents!
Got the permatrim fitted to the DF140 on Friday to help keep it my new- old boat on the plane better and keep her from bouncing.
Definitely made a difference although there wasn't a lot of swell to go through....oh yeah back to the report.
Gentlemans hours again so got to Scarborough ramp around 715 and after waiting a bit since there is only one ramp in operation headed out around 7.45. Mates were out on the Cockle banks so headed to them to test the boat...
They were getting some winter whiting and while I was not super keen (bit tired of them ... bit selfish I know) stayed around for a bit but then pulled up stumps to try for northern side of the Moreton Island.
First time out this far but got a bit nervous so really only stayed just before the Venus banks area...still not sure of how shallow the areas is and wasn't 100% on the fuel / tank / consumption yet so still wanted to play it safe.
Current was insane~! Some good structure but only kept getting whiplash, small sweetlip (grass emperors), hussar and also a cod (think it's a red cod? - returned)
Did plenty of southeast to northeast drifts...had to as the current just rips through and at the end of the drift the swell really picked up.
Headed back with empty esky but more experience in the area. Not sure if the fuel guage as it went from 3/4 full to 1/4 by the time we got back...it's a concern.
Going to try for tomorrow morning.
Any tips please let me know!

Morning all,
Just a quick report as I am about to head right again now.
Plan was to take the new boat out past Cape Moreton (first time for me), but had to abort. Chop was fine although bit more than expected. That wasn't the issue.
No matter what I did I just couldn't get the boat from porposing the while time. Played with the trim, speed moved some stuff around and still no joy whatsoever.
So headed to Curtain for the first time. Plenty of boats already on the anchor so did a couple of drifts to get the feel then anchored up over a wreck and landed some monster bat fish (think that's what they are see picture.)
Couldn't get anything else so pulled the pin and decided to see if I might get lucky with the Kings at Tanga's. Let's just say that there was a s@#$%load of undersize pinkies everywhere ... but I hooked up to a King ...
Slight problem though...
It had snaffled the pinky on the live bait rig ... tried to play it (as I was laughing my arse off)... 30 seconds of later Mr King said f@#k this and snap. Still fun though.
Boat already on the mark already laughed as well...he had been busted off 3 times already. I couldn't get another hit but saw one of the other guys hookup only to be busted off.
Pulled stumps and headed back to Scarborough in a bouncy bloody boat ... not matter what I did. Arse is just too heavy ...
Will see how she goes this morning with just me in it. Going to take some bricks with me to see if I can balance the front out, otherwise kinda not sure what to do next...
1. Take it back and see what the dealer can do
2. Hyrdrofoil?
3. Tabs?
@demarc how did you go mate ?

Hey guys I have a 2005, 75hp 4.8 meter stacer bowrider. I just got back to Brisbane after a few years down south and have realised majority of my mates are in different cities now. I'm by no means a professional fisherman but would love to try live baiting. I don't have a cast net or know how to use one so I have just been trying to Jig unsuccessfully. I love my beer and chilling so it doesn't really matter if I don't catch anything. It's always a bonus if I catch a fish.
If you are not too serious and enjoy a chat and a beer give me a pm and hopefully we can go out and catch some dinner.
I live in Toowong and work night shift Monday to Friday so I'm only really available to go fishing Saturday afternoons and Sundays. If anyone is keen send me a pm and we can catch up for a beer.

Getting nervous with excitement...getting the boat back tomorrow and n-e-e-d-t-o-f-i-s-h this weekend.
Forecast is not looking great with NW around 10-15kts in the northern bay.
Thinking of staying in close ... either Woody Point or trying some drifts close to the peninsula down to Redcliffe.
What's everyone else thinking?

I know there is a fair bit of interest in the forum on this topic so just sharing these details.
I will be giving another presentation on the Environmental History and Ecology of Moreton Bay. This time it will be as a guest speaker for the Moreton Maritime Alliance who have a range of engagement activities on that evening. It is on June 27th between 5:30 and 7:30 at the Belvedere Hotel, Woody Point (Redcliffe).
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/moreton-maritime-alliance-industry-evening-registration-46747708655